Vol. III, No.2 PUBLISHED Bf-MONTHLY BY AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS, Inc" A. F. of L. April, 1950 OFFICERS OFFICES LA WRENCE TIBBETT New York 18 President 276 West 43rd Street CONRAD THIBAULT Telephone: LOngacre 5-7508, 9, 10 1st Vice·President • JAMES PEASE Los Angl'les 2nd Vice-President CEDRIC HART J ASCHA HEIFETZ 6636 Hollywood Boulevard 3rd Vice·President Suite 238, Cherokee Bldg. Telephone: Hudson 2-2334 ASTRID VARNAY 4th Vice·President • San Franscisco THELMA VOTIPKA 5th Vice-President THEODORE HALE 216 Pine Street ELISABETH HOEPPEL Telephone: Sutter 0855 Recording Secretary • FREDERICK JAGEL Philadelphia Treasurer PAUL M. CHALFIN HYMAN R. FAINE . 1428 So. Penn Square Executive Secretary Telephone: Rittenhouse 6-3100 HOWARD M. LARAMY • Assistant to Executive Secretary Chicago BERNARD W. ZUEBERT BEN MEYERS Financial Secretary 188 W. Randolph Street Telephone: State 0585 • • JAFFE & JAFFE HOWARD M. LARAMY Counsel Editor THIRD ANNUAL AGMA CONVENTION The Board of Governors have fixed the dates for the istic endeavor. These new members present new facets of in­ Third Annual Convention to be held in the Lincoln Hotel, terest, and the problems brought into focus by them must have . New York City, on June 16th, 17th and 18th, 1950. the same considerations from the total membership in order The National AGMA office has sent ballots to all active to achieve a union whose overall policies will present a solid AGMA members, so that a secret ballot may be conducted front in the field of art in which all members are fellow to elect delegates from their respective areas to meet in this workers. Convention to discuss and formulate policies to be the pattern The delegates who will be chosen to represent the mem­ of AGMA's future program. bership in their various areas should come fully informed on the problems that are faced by the membership in their areas As ably outlined in Mr. Hyman Faine's editorial in the and also give leadership in advice in solving problems which last issue of Agmazine, the next six months will probably be confront other membership areas, so that a groundwork can the most crucial in AGMA's history. be laid to make AGMA into a strong national union. Patterns in the field of opera and ballet productions have It must be a convention devoted to the development of new undergone changes in the past few years due to new condi­ methods and policies to meet the needs of our changing mem­ tions in financial risks and new methods of presentation prob. bership and industry. The unified support on the part of mem­ lems which must be solved along lines adaptable to these con· bership and the election of informed and representative dele­ ditions. AGMA must meet this challenge with understanding, gates will make possible the accomplishment of a concrete courage and enlightenment. program that will promote our progress as a union that will There have been changes in the membership characteristics function for the greater welfare and protection of all AGMA with an influx of new members from an enlarged field of art- artists. MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR BOARD OF GOVERNORS With the election to the Board of Gov­ JULIA BARASHKOVA EUGENE CONLEY ernors now at hand, AGMAZINE here­ Dancer. Appointed to serve Board of Soloist. Member AGMA nine years with presents in this issue photographs Governors 1948. Is delegate for AGMA except for interim in U.S. Army. Prin­ and material concerning the candidates with Metropolitan Op­ cipal tenor, City Center whose names appear on the "ballots, era Ballet. Member of and Metropolitan Op­ which have been sent to all active mem­ Negotiating Committee era Companies. Served bers of AGMA. New members for the for Metropolitan Op­ on Board of Govern­ Board of Governors will be elected to era. Her record as a ors, as 4th Vice Presi­ serve three years. That some of the fol­ Board member has dent and member, sev­ lowing statements are shorter than been regularity in at­ eral terms. Has consist­ others does not indicate partiality on tendance and active ently worked as a the part of the editor. Some candidates participation in formu­ Board member for chose to be brief while others used the lating AGMA policies. A G M A membership full quota of words allotted to them. But principles. the identical amount of space was made WALTER B. BRANDIN ALFREDO CORVINO available to everyone. Chorister. New York City Opera since NEW YORK AREA 1948. AGMA representative 1948-49 Dancer. AGMA rep­ 10 members Spring and Fall sea­ resentative of ballet at (4 soloists - 1 instrumentalist) sons. Nominating Com­ Metropolitan Opera. If (4 dancers -- 1 chorister) mittee for Board of elected to the Board, will devote his time to ANN AYARS Governors and conven­ tion delegate for 1950. the betterment of work­ Committee Wages and ing conditions for all Soloist. J 0 i ned musical artists. AGMA when she be­ Working Conditions came a member of the for Popular Price op­ New York City Center era field. LAWRENCE DAVIDSON Opera Company in Soloist. Metropolitan Opera Company 1947 where she contin­ Committee on Metropolitan contract ne­ ues as a star in leading LUCY BROWN gotiations. Has labor soprano roles. union background as Instrumentalist. Active AGMA mem­ his father was organ­ ARTHUR BACKGREN ber since March, 1939. Appointed to izer of Cleaning and Chorister. Six years AGMA member. Board of Governors Dying local in Chicago. City Center Opera Co. three years. Met­ 1948 to fill a vacancy. "As a member of the ropolitan Opera three Twice elected to be del­ Board, I shall do my years. Was educated to egate for AGMA con­ best to help remove ob­ become a civil engin­ ventions. Deeply con­ stacles confronting the eer. If elected to Board ce>rned as an instru­ entire membership of of Governors will mentalist in the prob­ AGMA." lems in concert field. strive to promote and ALEXIS DOLIN OFF Served on Committees carry forward the in­ Dancer. Member AGMA nine years. terests of all AGMA on new Constitution and choral problems. Leading dancer, Metropolitan Opera, membership. four years. Has served two terms on Board of ERNO BALOCH FRANK CHAPMAN Governors. Member of Instrumentalist. Charter member of Committee on merger AGMA holding membership number 59. Soloist. One of the founders of AGMA. of entertainment un­ Was on Board of Gov­ Officer and Board member until active ions and still hopes ernors four years. duty with U. S. Mar­ such a merger can be Served on Committee ines, 1942. One of the achieved. Now serving on Basic Agreements founders of AFRA and on TvA Board and with concert manage­ on its National Board TvA Committee on ments and was conven­ for five years. Will do wages and working conditions. As a tion delegate for both whatever he can if the member of the Board for another term, national conventions. membership desires his would aim to better working conditions Member Local No. 802, retention on the AGMA for all AGMA members and particu­ A.F.M. for 26 years. Board. larly ballet dancers. 2 MEET YOUR CANDIDATES EDWIN DUNNING MACK HARRELL IRVING LA VITZ Soloist. AGMA member since 1943. Soloist. AGMA member for past ten Chorister. Organized first G.O.C.A. Has been active member in four of the years. Principal baritone with Metropol­ which later was chartered by 4A's. Is 4A unions, starting itan, Chicago opera serving on choral com­ with AFRA at its in­ and San Francisco op­ mittee. AGMA repre­ ception. AGMA dele­ era companies. Soloist sentative with San Car­ gate for principals for with leading symphony lo Opera. Has served New York City Center orchestras and in con­ on Board of Govern­ ors. "My past record Opera Company and cert. Has s e I' v e d active in establishing AGMA as a member of with AGMA proves my w 0 I' kin g conditions Board of Governors qualifications to be with that company. and now is a candidate elected to the Board of for re-election. Governors." ROBERT LINDGREN MATTHEW FARRUGGIO OSIE HAWKINS Dancer. Served on Chorister. Member AGMA since 1937. Board of Governors Soloist. AGMA member eight years. Also member Equity and AGVA. Has one year. AGMA rep­ Won Metropolitan scholarship in 1941, been with Chicago Op­ resentative with through an audition in era, San Carlo, Metro­ Ballet Russe de Monte Atlanta, and made de­ politan and City Center Carlo. "It is my belief but with that company opera companies. Has in the future of AGMA in 1942 and has a rec­ been AGMA represent­ and knowledge of its ord for performing ative for choristers past that leads me to many various roles per with City Center for seek re-election." season with the Metro­ past and present sea­ LEON LISHNER politan. His petitioners sons. Soloist. With Philadelphia Opera Co., would like to add the New Opera Co., Montreal Opera Guild, role of Board member New York City Ballet GEORGE FISHER to other accomplishments. Company and present· ly with "The Consul." Chorister. Member AGMA, AFRA WINIFRED HEIDT and Chorus Equity. Aided in negotiat­ Member also AFRA ing contract with concert revue produc­ Soloist. AGMA member for several and AGV A. Represent­ ers. AGMA representative, past and pres­ years. City Center, Philadelphia La ative for AGMA with ent seasons, of de Paul' Infantry Chorus. Scala and many local the "Consul." In the Photo has not been received in time for opera com pan i e s . eXCItIng development inclusion in this issue. Member Board of Gov­ of opera as produced ernors for several on Broadway, it would CARLTON GAULD terms and if re-elected be important to have AGMA artists Soloist.